Shears.



No. 64l,966. Patented Jan. 23, I900.

H. W. HOWE.

SHEABS.

{Application filed Aug. 7, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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NITED STATES HENRY W. HOlVE, OF MEXICO, MEXICO.

SHEARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,966, dated January 1900.

' Application filed August 7| 1399- To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, HENRY W. HOWE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mexico city, in the Federal District of Mexico, have invented a new and useful Shears, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shears; and it has for its object to provide a device of this nature in which the jaws will have a parallel movement,with the result that the tapering cutting edges of the jaws will have a rocking engagement.

A further object of the invention is to so mount the jaws of a pair of heavy shears that the cutting edges will have a springing contact with each other irrespective of the weight and consequent lack of elasticity of the blades themselves.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a special form of handle for the shears and to combine therewith a spring adapted to hold the jaws normally out of engagement.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification and in which like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several views, Figure 1 is an edge view of a pair of shears constructed in accordance with this invention and showing the overlapping arrangement of the jaws when in an open position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the positions of the jaws when closed. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, 5 and 6 represent the jaws of a pair of shears adapted for parallel movement, the cutting edges 6 and 7 thereof lying normally at an angle to each other and diverging forwardly and outwardly, the rear ends or heels of the cutting edges overlapping and engaging. Longitudinal slots 8 are formed in the rear ends of the jaws 5 and 6, while said jaws directly in the rear of their heels are provided with transverse perforations.

In connection with the jaws 5 and 6 are employed handles, each of which consists of a bifurcated plate which is bent on a line intermediate the bifurcations, resulting in the formation of handles 9, which are substantially semicircular in cross-section, and the outer ends of which terminate in parallel ears 10. The handles 9 are disposed with the ears Serial No. 726,435. (No model.)

of one handle inclosing the ears of the other and crossed, said ears being held in this position by means of a pivot-pin 11, on which they are adapted for pivotal movement. Equidistant from the pin 11 are formed perforations in the ends of the parallel ears 10, between which perforations are passed pivotpins 12, which also pass through the perforations adjacent the heels of the cutting edges of the jaw. At equidistances from the pin 11 are formed mutually equidistant perforations adjacent the base of the ears 10,through which are passed pins 13, which also enter and play in the slots 8 in the jaws. Those portions of the ears engaging the jaws at each side lie in a common plane, and to permit this the ears of one member are offset, as shown at 15, to receive the ears of the opposite handle.

As shown in the drawings, the inner face of the rear end of each jaw is provided with a recess in which is disposed the outwardlybent ends of a V-shaped spring 40, the apex of which spring extends rearwardly of the handles and acts to hold them normally apart. Also formed vertically through the jaws are perforations alining in pairs, one perforation of each pair being screw-threaded to receive the threaded end of a pin passed through the opposite perforation and in which opposite perforation it is slidable. Thus as the jaws are opened and closed the pins will act as guides to prevent side play thereof.

Thus it will be seen that normally the instrument will lie in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the positions of the jaws and the shapes thereof being such as to cause them to overlap transversely. As the handles are brought together the pivots 12 will move the jaws forwardly and inwardly, while the pivots 13 will form guides in the forward movement of the jaws and will at the same time move the rear end thereof inwardly with the same speed, which will cause the jaws to approach and the cutting edges to slide one past the other, the heels of the jaws being forced apart as the jaws are closed. To permit this forcing apart of the jaws, the handles and their ears are formed of spring material, and thus the ears have a yielding action. Without this yielding of the ears the separation of the heels could not be secured owing to the stiffness of the jaws employed. As the jaws are brought together the rear ends thereof have a forward movement with respect to the handles, and as they are forced apart they have a rear movement with respect thereto, the pins 13 in their engagement with the ends of the slots 8 acting to limit the inward movement of the jaws.

It will be seen that the formation of shears as above described results in an efiicient instrument, and it will be understood that in practice thesize and proportions thereof, as also the material employed, may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention; also, that any required number of guide-pins may be used.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. A shears comprising jaws having longitudinal slots and transverse perforations, handles having ears mutually overlapping and receiving opposite portions of their respective jaws, pivots passed through the extremities of said ears and the perforations of their respective jaws,and pins passed through the ears and playing in the slots of the jaws.

2. A shears comprising jaws having cutting edges normally overlapping transversely, handles pivotally connected with said jaws, recesses in the jaws, and a spring engaging said recesses and adapted to hold the jaws normally separated.

3. A shears comprising jaws having cutting edges, overlappingtransversely, handles, and spring-ears formed thereon, and pivoted to the jaws.

4. A shears comprising jaws having cutting edges normally overlapping transversely, handles, ears formed thereon crossed and pivoted to the jaws, said ears being adapted to yield and permit operation of the jaws.

5. A shears comprising jaws having cutting edges, handles, ears formed thereon crossed and pivoted to the jaws, and guide-pins carried by one of said jaws and adapted for movement in the opposite jaw to prevent lateral displacement of the jaws.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aifixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY W. HOWE.

\Vitnesses:

MY. AFRAMONK, JAMEs R. HARDY. 

